Education and demonstration – Religion – Rosary
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-20
2001-01-30
Rimell, Sam (Department: 3712)
Education and demonstration
Religion
Rosary
C434S245000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179621
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a prayer strands having a plurality of nodes positioned on a cord used to count prayers. Specifically, the present invention is a device for marking a user's position on a prayer strand for later reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many cultures and religions use prayer strands for counting and tracking prayers. The most well known of these devices is the strand of rosary beads used during the recitation of the rosary in the Catholic religion. However, many other religions, including the Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Eastern Orthodox religions, use similar devices which have nodes, such as beads or knots, positioned on a cord to count or otherwise track a series of prayers as the prayers are recited.
In its simplest form, a user moves his or her fingers from node to node along the prayer strand as each repetition of the prayer is completed. In its more complex form, beads of different attributes, such as size, shape, or the like, prompt the user to recite different prayers in sequence.
Often, as a user recites the prayers, he or she may be interrupted. When such an interruption takes place, the user either risks losing his or her place along the prayer strand or must pinch the prayer strand between the user's fingers to try to maintain the user's position.
However, the drawback of this system is that the user may have difficulty recalling the direction in which the user was traversing the prayer strand when interrupted. Moreover, if the user is physically disabled or visually impaired, it may be difficult to maintain the user's place along the prayer strand because the user may be unable to firmly hold the prayer strand at the desired location for a long period of time.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a device which marks a user's position on a prayer strand for later reference, without the user having to hold the marker in place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device for marking a position on a beaded or knotted prayer strand includes a marker and a clip attached to, or integrally formed with, the marker to secure the marker to the prayer strand. The marker is visually and tactually distinguishable from the beads or knots so that the user may find the marker by sight or touch alone. The clip preferably has a closed position, in which the clip engages the prayer strand or a node located thereon, and an open position, in which the clip may be removed from the prayer strand. In a preferred embodiment, the clip includes a spring to bias the clip into the closed position.
The marker may include a tether, preferably a flexible tether, connected to the clip. The tether allows the user to easily find and grip the marker.
Additionally, the end of the tether may include a clasp adapted to engage said strand. Thus, the clasp may be engaged to the strand to secure the marker to the strand. Also, the location of the clasp may serve to indicate the direction that the user was traversing the prayer strand when the clip was applied. Specifically, the clasp may be connected to one side of the starting node to indicate the direction in which the user was traversing the prayer strand.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which preserves, for later reference, a user's position along a prayer strand with a tactually and visually perceptible marker.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2519819 (1950-08-01), Brennan
patent: 2937459 (1960-05-01), Belfield
patent: 3319599 (1967-05-01), Kussman
patent: 4365246 (1982-12-01), Dewolf et al.
patent: 5349920 (1994-09-01), Koizumi et al.
Anderson & Morishita
Morishita Robert Ryan
Rimell Sam
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